From a reader…
I went to confession! It had been 10 years. Your encouragement helped me get up the nerve to go. The hardest part was actually going to the church. I wrote down every single thing I wanted to say (including “Bless me Father…”). That helped. Your work is helping save souls.
*sniff*
My work here is done.
NOT!
Everyone…
GO TO CONFESSION!
When is the last time you heard those incredible words of absolution after a good, thorough confession of all mortal sins in kind and number?
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I’d have to agree. These loving words of sincere and genuine encouragement are the most appealing thing about this blog.
Alleluia!
I say this not to boast, for I have no reason to boast, but I resolved on 1/1/12 to go to confession at least once in each calendar month. I’ve done so ever since (and several months more than once due to being a habitual sinner) and it has been very beneficial. I still fall into mortal sin, but not as often and when I do, I get cleaned up as soon as possible. Fellow readers, if you haven’t availed yourself of this incredible gift lately, please do so at your first opportunity!
To “reader” who went to Confession after 10 years’ time:
I’ve had a lousy couple of weeks, in human terms. You’ve reminded me to rejoice.
Thank you for strengthening us, the church on earth. I was received into the Church by profession of faith 7 years ago and I still can’t describe my gratitude for the sacrament of Confession.
“*sniff*
My work here is done.
NOT!”
Hahaha! That cracked me up. Thanks for always reminding us, Father!
The last three times I went to confession where because of assurances from my internet priests that I am not bothering the priests by stumbling through this sacrament. Please do not stop exhorting people to go…We listen to you. Sometimes we listen more to you then the priest we see weekly.
Make sure you throw away your “confession notes.” You don’t want to dwell on them. Jesus has forgotten them and so should you forget them.
Dear Father,
Thank you for this holy work. It pains many lay-people too to see the vast number of Catholics who never make use of this great Sacrament of Mercy. To see the hundreds of people who receive Holy Communion whoever they (occasionally) go to Mass, in parishes where confessions are heard perhaps twice a year. It is not judgmental to ponder the millions of sacrilegious Communions people make through needless ignorance and carelessness. A priest friend who spends hours in the confessional every day, tell me often how he grieves for these absent souls.
Perhaps it would also help if you were to write a commentary on the words of sacramental absolution, as you rightly say, “incredible words”. How can any laymen hearing them doubt that they are addressed to him by God himself? For a priest to speak them without His authority would be the most supreme act of certifiable lunacy and of arrogance. Every time I hear them it sends a shiver down my spine. “Ego te absolvo…” What an immeasurable gift! Why are the confession queues not packed with eager souls thirsty for this grace?
ray from mn I’m sure means destroy where he says throw away.
I open the page on the Missal with how to make a confession. I may not look, but is a strange sort of crutch which keeps me from stumbling.
If I carry handwritten pages into the Confessional, I shred them when I get home. If I take my e-confessions, I delete them. So affirming! THANK YOU TO ALL PRIESTS WHO HEAR OUR CONFESSONS. It isnourishment to this starving sinner.
Yes, yes, yes! Thank you Father for your frequent mention of this great Sacrament.
Coming from the Episcopal Church and the General Confession (with ‘auricular confession’ theoretically available but never, ever in actuality), I cannot describe what a blessing and a help this has been to me. I am still struggling with my besetting sins, but now I feel that with sympathetic priests with wise counsel, I am far more conscious of my situation when I am tempted – and I think that I am making some sort of progress (baby steps, but progress!)
And I use the iPhone with the Confession app — it’s passworded and automatically deletes the list of sins once confessed, so no notes to misplace or forget to destroy, as my absent-mindedness is legendary. Like the little old lady who got into the box and began, “Loaf of bread, eggs . . . oh my goodness, I left my sins in the A&P!”
Father, your frequent reminders have a been a great gift to me as well. Thank you for all you do to remind us of the beauty of this sacrament.